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Luis Javier Rodriguez | |
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Born | Luis Javier Rodriguez 1954 (age 69–70) El Paso, Texas, U.S. |
Nationality | American |
Occupations |
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Known for | Always Running: La Vida Loca, Gang Days in L.A. |
Political party | Green |
Other political affiliations | Justice |
Los Angeles Poet Laureate | |
In office 2014–2015 | |
Luis Javier Rodriguez (born 1954) is an American poet, novelist, journalist, critic, and columnist. He was the 2014 Los Angeles Poet Laureate.[1] Rodriguez is recognized as a major figure in contemporary Chicano literature,[2] identifying himself as a native Xicanx writer.[3] His best-known work, Always Running: La Vida Loca, Gang Days in L.A., received the Carl Sandburg Literary Award and has been controversial on school reading lists for its depictions of gang life.
The founder and co-founder of nonprofit organizations including Tía Chucha's Centro Cultural,[4][5][6] Rodriguez has been active in politics. Rodriguez was the 2012 vice-presidential nominee of the Justice Party.[7] In 2014, Rodriguez ran as the Green Party of California's candidate for Governor of California[8][9] and received 66,872 votes (1.5 percent of the vote) in the June primary.[10] He ran again as candidate in the 2022 California gubernatorial election, endorsed by the Green Party and the Peace and Freedom Party.